ARTS, BRIEFLY; Julie Andrews to Direct A New Musical

By SCOTT HELLER; Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF

Published: January 14, 2012

Julie Andrews will direct a new musical, ''The Great American Mousical,'' based on the children's book of the same name that she wrote with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. Goodspeed Musicals will put on a developmental production of the show on its second stage, the Norma Terris Theater in Chester, Conn., from Nov. 8 to Dec. 2, theater leaders are scheduled to announce on Saturday afternoon. Ms. Andrews, below, directed a version of ''The Boy Friend'' for Goodspeed in 2005, but this is her first time overseeing a new show. Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler will write the music and lyrics, Hunter Bell the book. Christopher Gattelli (''Godspell'') will do the choreography. Sets and costumes will be designed by Tony Walton, Ms. Andrews's former husband and Ms. Hamilton's father, who did the illustrations for the book, which came out in 2006. A New York Times review praised the book as an ''entertaining story about what happens when the leading lady of a new Broadway musical winds up in a Havahart trap before the premiere -- the lady being a pampered mouse named Adelaide.'' Ms. Andrews was traveling and unavailable for comment, according to Goodspeed. By e-mail Mr. Bell, best known for ''[title of show],'' described working with this ''Mary Poppins'' and ''Sound of Music'' star as ''so inspiring.'' ''Her work ethic and stamina are astounding,'' he said. ''And she makes a mean cup of tea!''